This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia.
The relationship between innovation and competitiveness becomes increasingly relevant in developed economies in which markets need to be at the forefront of cutting edge products and processes in order to retain their competitive advantage.
In the context of non-metropolitan regions of Australia innovation is indicative of businesses willing to try new approaches to improving productivity and engaging with the enterprise environment the digital agenda and investing in education and training. A reluctance or inability to innovate significantly reduces the competitiveness of a region.